View From Nashville: If Patriots take away Derrick Henry, A.J. Brown ... where will Titans plays come from?

FOXBOROUGH – The Patriots always aim to eliminate an opponent’s most dangerous threat. Take him away and see how they function without being able to lean on him.

New England has been hurt by big days this season, from the likes of Frank Gore, Golden Tate, Nick Chubb, Joe Mixon and Devonta Parker.

But the defense minimized weapons like Ezekiel Elliott, DeAndre Hopkins, Travis Kelce, Le’Veon Bell and Terry McLaurin this season. And historically it’s been their defensive goal.

Saturday night, presumably, the Patriots will look to quiet Derrick Henry. And if they can do that, they’ll also look to quash A.J. Brown.

As I mentioned earlier this week, the Titans play the most three-tight end in the NFL and are top-five in two-tight.

Since Week 9, 28 percent of targets against the Patriots have been to the tight end, per Warren Sharp. And New England is allowing a greater success rate to two- and three- tight end packages than any other over the course of the season.

Ryan Tannehill has a passer rating of 154.2 on passes to the middle of the field, the best of 34 qualified NFL quarterbacks. That’s 54.7 points better than the league average, throwing to an area where tight ends often roam.

That may put Jonnu Smith in prime position.

“I don’t know what they are going to do, I am sure they might try some things,” Logan Ryan said. “But we’ve got a good team that’s scoring some points right now. We’ve got to do it on Saturday.

“They’re pretty good at stopping not only primaries but seconds and thirds as well.”

Odds are the Titans are going to need at least a couple plays in this game from guys beyond Henry, Brown, Smith and Corey Davis, guys who aren’t near the top of the stat sheet.

The way the regular season played out, they should be equipped to get some.

“We’ve had games where I think maybe 10 different offensive players have touched the ball," Mike Vrabel said. “So, it’s great to have guys that have had successful seasons, but ultimately you’re going to need everybody to contribute.”

Candidates…

Tajae Sharpe

The Titans’ fourth receiver has moved up a spot for the last month with Adam Humphries out with an ankle injury that will keep him out tomorrow night too.

Sharpe reliably makes plays when called upon.

In the month as the No. 3 he’s gone four for 25, two for 28 five for 69 with two off-schedule touchdown catches against New Orleans, and one for 13. He’s capable of the sort of game he had against the Saints and he can make a key first-down catch as virtually any time.

MyCole Pruitt

The blocking tight end caught a 42-yard pass in Oakland that set up a third-quarter TD and grabbed a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter of the season finale in Houston where the Titans went in needing to win to get into the playoffs.

“I feel like any opportunity I get out there I want to take advantage of. If that’s how the game’s going to go, that’s how it’s going to go. We find a way to win and however we’ve got to do it, that’s the way we’ve got to do it.

“We’ve got a lot of guys who are willing to step up. One person has kind of an off game, another person has stepped up and kind of made that play.”

I’ve had a feeling all week Pruitt’s making a significant play in this game.

Anthony Firkser

Normally sure-handed, the tight end has caught 14 of 24 targets this season.

His most memorable play was one he didn’t make. Tannehill threw him a short TD pass that Eric Reid dislodged right before the goal line that Whitney Mercilus returned 86 yards to position the Texans for a touchdown. That was a huge swing in the first Titans-Texans game.

But he’s caught 39-, 27- 25-, 23-, and 20-yard passes this season and has a TD.

Khari Blasingame

The fullback made a couple of really nice plays in the passing game against Oakland, with a 24-yard acrobatic catch on a wheel route up the left side and a 23-yard catch up the right side.

He’s only been on the roster for six games and there were only two other catches and he has not had a carry.

Dion Lewis

He’s not been a significant contributor at all in his third season with the Titans, with his biggest role being in blitz pickup and pass protection. On 57 carries he managed only 209 yards, an average of 3.9 yards with a long of 17. He also caught 25 balls for 164 yards with nothing longer than 24.

When he started for Henry (hamstring) against New Orleans, he did manage the 17-yard run and a 19-yard catch.

It'd be a nice story for him to make a notable play or two against his old team. It’s the toughest one to expect here.

Kalif Raymond

He gives the Titans their top speed element at receiver even in minimal snaps. But he’s doubtful, still dealing with the ramifications of the concussion suffered as a result of the unpenalized hit by C.J. Gardner-Johnson of the Saints in Week 16. That resulted in a fine of over $29,000.

Others: WR Cody Hollister (questionable, ankle), WR Rashard Davis, WR Darius Jennings.